NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born singer of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died. She was 76 years old.
The daughters announced his death Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press.
“Today we sisters are experiencing a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to mental illness,” the statement said. “We are devastated. We are sailing in deep pain and we know that as we loved her, she was loved by her audience. We are in uncharted territory.”
Naomi Judd died near Nashville, Tennessee, a statement said on behalf of her husband and fellow singer, Larry Strickland. She said no further details about her death would be released and asked for privacy while the family mourns.
The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday and had just announced a stadium tour starting in the fall, their first tour together in more than a decade. They also returned to award shows when performed at the CMT Music Awards earlier this month.
“I am honored to have witnessed “Love Can Build a Bridge” just a few weeks ago,” singer Maren Morris posted on Twitter on Saturday.
“This is heartbreaking news! Naomi Judd was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met,” singer Travis Tritt posted on Twitterand noted that he had worked with Judd several times on screen and during performances.
The mother-daughter performers scored 14 No. 1 songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades. After rising to the top of country music, they called it quits in 1991 after doctors diagnosed Naomi Judd with hepatitis. Wynonna continued her solo career.
The Judds’ hits included “Love Can Build a Bridge” in 1990, “Mama He’s Crazy” in 1984, “Why Not Me” in 1984, “Turn It Loose” in 1988, “Girls Night Out” in 1985, “Rockin’ ‘ With the Rhythm of the Rain” in 1986 and “Grandpa” in 1986.
Born Diana Ellen Judd in Ashland, Kentucky, Naomi was working as a nurse in Nashville when she and Wynonna began singing together professionally. Their unique harmonies, along with elements of acoustic, bluegrass, and blues music, made them stand out in the genre at the time.
“We had a stamp of originality on what we were trying to do,” Naomi Judd told The AP after it was announced that they would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
TheJudds released six studio albums and one EP between 1984 and 1991 and won nine Country Music Association Awards and seven Academy of Country Music Awards. Together they won a total of five Grammy Awards for hits like “Why Not Me” and “Give A Little Love.”
The Judds sang about family, the belief in marriage, and the virtue of fidelity. Because Naomi looked so young, the two were mistaken for sisters early in her career.
They first gained attention singing on Ralph Emery’s morning show in the early 1980s, where the host named them the “Soap Sisters” because Naomi said she used to make her own soap.
After the success of “Mama He’s Crazy”, they won the Horizon Award at the 1984 CMA Awards. Naomi started her speech by saying “Slap the dog and spit on the fire!”
His daughter Ashley Judd is an actress known for her roles in such films as “Kiss the Girls”, ″Double Jeopardy” and “Heat”.
Strickland, who was a backup singer for Elvis Presley, was married to Naomi Judd for 32 years.
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Reference-www.wagmtv.com